Improved heel clamp



P 3, 1963 A. T. HOOPER ETAL 3,102,284

IMPROVED HEEL CLAMP 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 18, 1961 /N 5 N TOPS. A/freo 7: Hooper Hen/y von den Ben/(en BV' dawned ATTY Sept. 3, 1963 A. T. HOOPER ETAL IMPROVED HEEL CLAMP Filed Sept. 18, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 p 1963 A. -r. HOOPER ETAL 3,102,234

IMPROVED HEEL CLAMP Filed Sept. 18, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 4

A. T. HOOPER ETAL IMPROVED HEEL CLAMP Sept. 3, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 18, 1961 anismj 3,102,284 IMPROVED HEEL CLAMP Alfred T. Hooper, Broekton, and'Henry .V. D. Bent-(en,

West Roxbury, Mass assignors to Jacob S. Kamborian, West Newton, Mass.

Filed Sept. 18, 1961, Ser. No. 138,862 16 Claims. (Cl. 12-144) This invention relates to a heel clamp for holding an upper firmly in position against a last whilethe heel of the upper is being lasted in a heel seat lasting machine such as that disclosed in pending application Serial No.

, 107,156'filed May 2, 1961.

The machine of the aforesaid application includes a substantially U-shaped clamping pad located below a pair of heel seat lasting wipers. The machine includes a plate having a slide mounted therein for forward and rearward movement. A pair oflevers are pivotally connected to the slide for swinging movement about axes transverse to the plane of movement of the slide and have lever legs extending forwardly and divengeutly from the axes. The levers have pad leg supports mounted on the lever legs that are connected by joining means to the pad legs.

7 Chains extend about the outer periphery of the padfrom the slide to each of the pad leg supports and are connected to the slide and to a pad leg support at their oppoengages the upper, after which the lever legs are moved inwardly to cause the legs of the pad to engage the upper and press it against the last.

i In the instant invention,v an adjustable connection is provided between the pad legs and the lever legs to perrnit a heightwise adjustment of the pad legs with. respect to the lever legs and thus ensure that the top of the pad is mounted below and parallel to the bottoms of the wipers. .Further, a slida ble connection is provided to permit relative movement between the pad legs and the lever legs in a direction extending lengthwise of, the lever legs during the closing movement ofthe lever legs. Finally,

[a yieldable connection is provided. between the chains and the pad leg supports. Referring to the accompanying drawings:

ice

tensioning unit 16 is mounted on the post 10. The unit 16 comprises a front pincers 18, two side pincers 20 and a toe rest 22. A block 23 is swingably mounted on the post 10 for oscillation about the axis of the post. The block has nails 24 connected thereto and extending forwardly thereof on which the unit 16 is slidably mounted for foward movement away from the post 10 and rearward movement towards the post. A pair of air actuated motors 26 are pivoted to the rail 24 and have piston rods 28 connected to the unit 16 to effect forward and rearward movement of the unit 16 along the rails 24. The pincers 18' and 20 are mounted on a bar 30 and an air operated motor (not shown) is connected to the bar 30 to eifect upward and downward movement of the pincers 18 and 20 with respect to the rails 24.

The post 10 and the upper tensioning unit 16 carried thereby are swingably mounted for bodily movement toward and away from a heel seat lasting unit 32 mounted in the frame 34 of the machine. The unit 32 comprises .a Ushaped heel clamping pad 36 made of a flexible material such as leather and wipers 38 mounted in wiper cams 40. A hold-down foot 42 is mounted above the unit 32 and forwardly of the wipers.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a main slide plate 44 is slidalbly mounted for forward and rearward movement in the frame 34 so as to change the position of the heel seat lasting unit in the frame in the manner and for thereasons described in the aforementioned pending application Serial No. 107,156, filed May'2, 1961. A pair of air actuated motors 46 are mounted on the plate 44. Each motor has a piston rod 48 that is pivotally connected to a lever 5'0 by \a pivot 52. The levers 50 have legs 54 extending toward each other from the pivots 52 and legs 56 extending forwardly and divergently from the pivots 52. The legs 54 are pivotally connected by pivots 58 to a slide 60*. A pair of tension springs 62 and 64 are connected at their opposite ends to arms 66 that are fixed to the legs 54. The springs force the levers 50 about the pivots 52 to the position shown in FIG. 2 where the contiguous faces of the legs 54 abut each other. The slide .60 is slidably mounted in gibs 68 mounted on the plate 44.

The lever legs 56 have studs 70' slida-bly mounted therein, and each lever leg 56 is forked at its forward end to embrace a knob 72 that is threaded onto each stud 70 The outer end of each stud 70 is forked to receive a pin 74 mounted in each lever leg 56 so that rotation of each knob 72 imparts a rectilinear inward or outward move- FIG. 1 isa front elevation view of the heel seat lasting machine;

' FIG. 2 is a plan view of the heel clamping mechanism; FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the heel clamping mech- FIG. 4 is a detail showing the connection between a pad leg and a leverleg;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along the line 55 of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a view taken along the line 66 of FIG. 5; FIG. 7 is a section taken along the line 77 of FIG. 2; FIG. 8 is a representation of the shoe in the machine just prior'to itsbeing engaged by the heel clamp;

FIG. 9' is a representation of the clampingpad as it engages the shoe; and p FIG. 10 is a representation of the machine parts at the completion of the lasting operation.

As aforesaid, the clamping pad of the instant invention The heel seat lasting machine comprises ment of a stud with respect to its associated lever leg 1 56. A socket 76 is provided in a flange 77 that is formed at the inner end of each stud 70. Each socket receives a rod or bolt 78. The shank of each. bolt 78 extends through a hole at the base of the socket, and a compression spring 80 is interposed between the base of each socket and a washer 82 lying at the base of the head 84 of each bolt 7 8. A mounting bracket 86 is located at the inner end of each stud 70. Each mounting bracket has a vertical slot 88 extending therethroug'h. A dowel pin 90 seated in each flange 77 extends through its associated slot 88 and a bolt 92 threaded into each flange 77 has a shank extending through its associated slot 88 and a head bearing against the walls bounding the sides of the slot.

1 A horizontally extending, inwardly facing, undercut groove 94 is located in each bracket 86 above its slot 88.

A pair of sprocket chains 104 are wrapped around the outer periphery of the pad 36. Each chain 104 is anchored at one end to the shank of a bolt 78 by a chain lug 106 that threadedly receives the shank of its associated bolt 73. The slide 60 has a projection 108 at its forward end having a slot 110 in which the other end of each chain 104 is received. A pair of pins 112 mounted in the projection 8 extend across the slots 110 and through the ends of the chains 104 remote from the flanges 77.

The wipers 38 are movable forwardly and inwardly above the pad 38 by mechanism that includes a motor driven rack 116 (FIG. 3), connected to the wipers, which mechanism is disclosed more fully in the aforementioned pending application Serial No. 107,156.

In setting up the machine, the adjustments described in application Serial No. 107,156 are performed including the rotation of the knobs 72 to move the pad legs 98 toward or away from each other to set the contour of the pad 36 in accordance with the contour of the shoe heel that is to be lasted. If necessary, the bolts 92 are loosened and the brackets 86 are raised or lowered to place the top of the pad 98 in a plane parallel to and just below the bottom of the wipers 38 as indicated in FIG. 5, after which the bolts 92 are retightened.

A last 118 is provided having an insole 120 mounted on its bottom and an upper 122 draped thereon. A liner 124 is secured to the heel of the upper to engage the heel of the last, :and a counter 126 is located in the pocket formed between the upper and the liner, the counter having the characteristics described in the aforementioned application Serial No. 107,156 and in pending application 80,919 filed January 5, 1961. The last is placed bottom-up on the last supporting plate 12 with the pin 14 entering the conventional last pin hole in the last. The toe portions of the upper and last are supported on the toe roller 22, the toe of the upper margin is inserted between the jaws of the pincers 18, and the forepart portions of the upper margin (are inserted between the jaws of the side pincers 2t), and the pincers are actuated to cause their jaws to grip the upper margin. The motors 26 are now actuated to move the upper tensioning unit 16 and the pincers 18, '20 carried thereby forwardly to stretch the upper tightly about the heel of the last and tensionmold the counter to the shape of the heel of the last. The post 10 and the upper tensioning unit 16 carried thereby is now swung toward the heel seat lasting unit 32 to a position adjacent to but not in contact with the heel clamping pad 36, wherein the post =10 is substantially in alignment with the hold-down foot 42. The post 10 is now raised to bring the insole 120 into engagement with the holddown foot, after which the pincers 18 and 20 are raised upwardly in unison to apply an upward tension to the margin of the upper 122 at its toe and forepart portions to thereby stretch the upper tightly on the last and assemble it in proper position for the heel sea-t lasting operation. At this time the parts assume the position shown in FIG. 8.

The motors 46 are now actuated to cause the piston rods 48 to move the levers 50, the slide 69 and the clamping pad =36 carried thereby toward the heel of the last with the slide 60' sliding in the gi bs 68. During this movement the springs 62 and 64 maintain the lever legs 54 in abutting relation and the lever legs 56 in open position until the bight 128 of the pad engages the shoe as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 9. At this time the bight of the pad and the slide 60 can no longer move forwardly so that continued forward movement of the piston rods '48 causes the levers 50 to swing toward each other about the pivots "58 to cause the legs 98 of the pad to move toward each other and engage the upper as indicated in solid lines in FIG. 9. This arrangement provides for an initial contact of the pad 36 at the heel end of the shoe and then a progressive engagement of the pad along the sides of the shoe extending forwardly of the heel to ensure a smoothening out of any wrinkles there may be in the upper and a smooth, firm clamping of the upper against the last, which clamping action serves to compression mold the counter 126 to the shape of the last. During the inward movement of the pad legs 98, the pins 96 slide forwardly in the grooves '94 relative to the mounting brackets 86, thus ensuring a firm support for the pad legs 93 at all times during the inward movement thereof without any undesired bending or flexing of the pad.

The forces from the bight 128 of the pad to the studs 76- are transmitted through the chains 104. The yieldable connections provided by the bolts 78 and springs 80 ensure an even application of pressure by the pad legs against the last even if the last is initially positioned within the pad so that it is closer to one of the pad legs than the other pad leg.

During the aforesaid engagement of the pad 36 with the shoe upper, the chains 104 also serve to back up the pad and ensure their applying an unyielding clamping force against the upper with the pad compressing to some extent where it engages the upper. Ideally, the pad 36 should conform to the shape of the last heel after it has completed its clamping movement. Should the heel be somewhat oversize however is will compress the pad and then cause the pad to bulge outwardly against the chains 164. In this event, the bolts 73 will yield rightwardly (FIGS. 2 and 4) against the force of the springs 80 and thereby prevent the chains 104 from snapping or biting into the periphery of the pad.

At the completion of the clamping operation, the wipers 38 are caused to move forwardly and inwardly to wipe or fold the margins of the upper 128 and counter 126 against the insole 12%. The wiping pressure completes the molding of the counter and causes the counter, through adhesive on its surface, to bond the wiped-in margin of the upper to the insole. During the forward movement of the wipers, the hold-down foot 42 is raised so as to cause bedding pressure to be applied between the wipers and the wiped-in margin of the upper during the latter part of the wiper stroke and after the termination of the wiper stroke. At this time the parts assume the position shown in FIG. 10.

This concludes the lasting operation. The pincers 18, 20 are now opened to release the toe and forepart portions of the upper margin, the pincers are lowered to their initial position on the upper tensioning unit 16, the motors 46 are actuated to open the clamping pad 36 and return it to its initial position, the motors 26 are actuated to return the upper tensioning unit to its initial position, the post 10 is lowered to lower the shoe and last away from the wipers 38, the wipers are retracted, the hold-down foot is lowered to its initial position and the post 10 and the upper tensioning unit carried thereby is swung forwardly to its initial position.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims. Terms such as below and heightwise have been employed primarily to define the relative positions and paths of movements of the parts and should be construed accordingly.

We claim:

1. In a lasting machine, heel clamping means comprising: a substantially U-shaped clamping pad having a bight and a pair of legs extending forwardly of the bight on opposite sides of the bight; a bracket located adjacent each leg; drive means connected to the brackets to move them inwardly of the pad legs; a groove in each bracket extending lengthwise of its contiguous pad leg; and a pin embedded in each pad leg having a head extending outwardly thereof and slidably mounted in each groove, the diameters of the pin heads being substantially less than the lengths of the grooves.

2. In a lasting machine, a substantially U-shapcd clamping pad having a bight and a pair of legs extendextending forwardly divergentlydrbm said axes;

adjiistablejoint means connecting each pad "leg to a I ment of the pad legs respectltothe levetf legs; spring means connected to said levers fony'ieldably urging the to saidlevers between sai 'dfaxesfand said joint means: 1

means comprises; a'flange; on each lever; a mounting a bolt having a shank extending through the slot and substantially U'-shaped"cla1nping' padfha-vi g each mountingbracket to a padle'g.v a bight, nd apair "of legs entending vforwardly"of they 10. The device according .to claim 9 wherein said rnountedfin theplatiey'for. v ment; apazir of leverspivotally connected to, said slide in a direction extending lengthwise of the pad legs.

i extendingg fo r-wardly and jdiverg entlyyfrom said axes; 1 I a bight and a pair oi legs 'extlending forwardly of the n i p p cans connecting each,,lever leg to a pad leg; "t'ending about the outer periphery of the pad; a pad leg said-1 joining imeans permittingrclativemovement between s-upportlocated adjacenfleach pad leg; joining means miuthe levers andpad legsjlengthwiseflofthe pad legs; springl 1 connecting each padleg support to a pad leg; and a f m-cans connect dto said levers fioryi'eldabl-y'jurgingthe. yieldable connection between the backup means and ;;andi"drive means' .pivotally-connect'ed .30 eachpad legsupport; ii i v 'tween Saidax'es: and said joining means. '12, Ina j lasting machine; a substantially 'U-shaped i to fclaim 3"whe1eiil" said clampingvpad having a bight and a pair of legs extending joining means comprises for swinging movement about transverse to the plane of movement of the slide; said levers having legs? I means 'conn'ectingthe bight of; said pad to said slide;

, 'le ve legfso; constructed as to permitheightwise adjusti levert legs apart; and drive means" pivotal'ly connected;

Q The device according to claim 8 wherein said joint bracket having an elongate 'slot extending therethrough;

ianchored in the flange 'and a' head bearingagainst the v V fjwalls bounding the slot; and joining means connecting bight on'opposite sides'jofq the bight; :a plate; a jslidelj joining means includes means to permit relative move forward "and 'rearwardimove go ment between the mounting brackets and the pad legs V .for winging movement aboij t' axes, transverse to the 11 In a lasting machine, heel' clamping means commovementoftheslidqsaidlevershaving legs prising; a substantially .U-shapedj clamping pad having nnectingmth'e. high-t? of saidi-padjto said slide/p. bight on' opposite sides of the bight; back-up means exmdun il'lg rbfflfikflt ilocated v {forwardly of the bight; alast'support for supporting a i exterio'rlygof ezichpad-leg (and connected to eachleveri last having a shoe uppermounted thereon and a shoe leg; a groove in each mountingbrackct extending' length- 1 insole located "on its bottom with the heel of the last wisepf its contiguousfpad, leg;i anda.pinaembedded in facingjthe pad; 1 back up means extending about the p ef chlpad 'leg and slidably mountedin each groove. outer periphery oftheg ,p'adg apad leg support located.

""SJIheYde-vic'e according to claimA furthercompris adjacent each pad leg;*joining means connecting each'v mg! 6 5? q f q imb "b fl i pad leg" support to a pad leg; a yieldabl'e connection be- "sociated lever fleg for adjustment"transyersetd the plane 40 tween the back-upmeans' and eachpad leg support; and

. of-movement' ofthe' slidegyyjv V a p y 6'. In,a lasting'machin having wipingmea'ns mounted tween the last support and the pad to cause forward for movement lin a predeterminedplane: a substantially movement of the pad relative to the last until the bight drive means operative to impart; relative movement, ber a u shap'ed clamping pad having a bight anda pair or I of thei'pad engages the heel ofthe upper and to then;

E8 fi l d ng" i w id l bf 'ihe' bight 0H PP0 $id6s move the pad leg supports inwardly of the pad.- Z Of th b g lO jbdOW- W p g m n -:p 1 g 13.: In a lasting machine,'. he'el clamping means como int meansconnectinlg each' pad leg to apad legsuppontfs bight and-Va pair of legs extending forwardly of the fi d Sifi aS "P i i l 0f flit!v P g bight on opposite sides" of the bight; a plate; a slide with Tespecfllo vpa g pp r s inia direotiQmtranS YhO mounted in the plate for forward and rearward move- -verse' to said'predetermined plane; s

UPP I k f a iacen hra i l bl prisingz 'aisubstantially U-shaped clamping pad having a ment; a pair of levers pivotally connected to said slide 75 In"aIJastingQmachinehaving wipingmeansbmounted for swinging movement about axes transverse to the f'OI o m nt 3 p di i fi aisllbstnfiany plane of movement ofthe -slide; said levers having legs U,- shaped,. clamping pad-"having a bight and a pair of "extending forwardly and" divergently-from said axes; legs extendingforwardlyof'the bight on opposite Sides means connecting thehight of said pad to saidslide; a f h fb Q QWQI p g e last flange mounted on each lever leg; "joint means connecting supp'o r 41 1 011; t tgi pp 'm e'ach'flange. to a pad leg; spring means connected to 1 thereon and 3. shoeihsole located OIL its bottom with said levers fop yieldably urging the lever 1 g apapt; a

" lh dl fe htl fac n h Pa ta p l pp chain extending about the outer peiiphery of the pad I i tsa leaf-a st 'l n fromthe thigh-t towards eachlpad leg; means connecting Wmwiqs;s j P i g Fi P leg Q I; one end of each chain to said slide; a yieldable connecsti "a to pfirmltfaqlustmetl'tiof t Pa legs with gtionconnectingthe other end of each chain to oneof respect tothe pad leg supports 1n 2. direction transverse w'saidlpresdtermmedlplane; drive means "operative I said levers betweensaid axes and said flanges.

. toirnp art reiativ o em a wmt a U and a 14 The device according to claim 13 wherein said jflkthe pad to causeg forwardf movement of the vpad rela- I 223%; ig g fightg gg igi 3; il gggifiz firomsaid other ends of each chain through each inwai y ofthe p i f v J a a i p l of sa d flanges; and-spring means mounted on each Inga, t j xghelxhclamping m comb flange yieldably urging 1ts associated rod forwardly of prising: "a substantiaHy-U;shaped clan1pin ,pad having its associated flange. v a

' merit; a pair of levers pivotally connectedto said slide tending lengthwise of its contiguous padleg; and a said flanges; and drive means pivotallyconnected tov yieldable connections comprise: a rod extending fora ja -g l g extending forwa dly of the u g 15. The device according to claim 14 wherein said ighluonvybppbsirte Sides; of the g zp'l p li l joint means comprises: mountingbr'acket connected' ;mo1inted'inthe plate for forwa'rdhnd rearwardfimo ves to each flange; a groove in each mounting'bracket-zexembedded in each pad leg and slidably mounted in each groove. i

16. The device according to claim 15 wherein each of said mounting brackets has an elongate slot extending therethrough on an axis substantially parallel to said lever axes and the connections between said brackets and said flanges comprises: a bolt having a shank extend ing through the slot and anchored in the flange and a head bearing against the walls bounding the slot.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Hill et al. Sept. 21, 1954 

1. IN A LASTING MACHINE, HEEL CLAMPING MEANS COMPRISING: A SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED CLAMPING PAD HAVING A BIGHT AND A PAIR OF LEGS EXTENDING FORWARDLY OF THE BIGHT ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE BIGHT; A BRACKET LOCATED ADJACENT EACH LEG; DRIVE MEANS CONNECTED TO THE BRACKETS TO MOVE THEM INWARDLY OF THE PAD LEGS; A GROOVE IN EACH BRACKET EXTENDING LENGTHWISE OF ITS CONTIGUOUS PAD LEG; AND A PIN EMBEDDED IN EACH PAD LEG HAVING A HEAD EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREOF AND SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN EACH GROOVE, THE DIAMETERS OF THE PIN HEADS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THE LENGTHS OF THE GROOVES. 